**A Cevicheria serves modern and creative ceviche dishes in one of Lisbon’s most fun neighborhoods, Bairro Alto.**

Renowned for its beautiful coastline, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine, Portugal is a must-visit for food and wine lovers. And since food can make or break a trip, it’s a good idea to be aware of the best Portuguese culinary and wine treasures before jetting off to this popular tourist destination.

Here are four standout spots for your gastronomy-inspired Portuguese adventure, one in which you and your traveling companions will never go hungry.

This map was made with Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most walkable cities—if you don’t mind a few hills, that is. The city is small and you can easily cover it by foot as long as you’re wearing comfortable shoes. And the good news is that you’ll burn a lot of calories walking the steep inclines, meaning you can eat more—something you will want to do a lot of in Lisbon with its fantastic food scene.

Three of my favorite dinner spots in this lively city are Belcanto, one of the finest Michelin-starred restaurants I’ve ever dined at, Prado, for exceptional farm-to-table cuisine with organic and natural wines and Restaurante Mar do Inferno, for the freshest seafood with ocean views.

For lunch, a fun spot to sample a variety of Lisbon specialties is Time Out Market. Another winning spot in Lisbon’s hopping Bairro Alto neighborhood is A Cevicheria, which has the best ceviche in town. For drinks, head to Park Rooftop Bar for classic cocktails and a lively scene. And stop by Manteigaria bakery for Lisbon’s best Pastel de Nata (see more on this amazing pastry below).

**Not your typical Oysters at Belcanto.**

**Butternut squash at Prado.** Photo courtesy of Prado Restaurante. All other photos by Lisa Denning.

**In Lisbon, You can find whole stores devoted to canned fish!**

**Sardine sandwiches at Time Out Market Lisboa.**

**Manteigaria’s *Pastéis de nata* (Pastel de nata in English).**

Belém

Located just a 10-minute Uber ride from Lisbon, Belém is a civil parish (district) of the municipality of Lisbon and provides visitors with a worthwhile jaunt outside the heart of the city.

If there’s one food item from Portugal known above all others, it’s the pastéis de nata – a sweet, egg-custard pastry, with a crisp, flaky outside and a sweet, creamy middle. So where better to try one (or a few, I won’t judge) than in Belém, the birthplace of this baked treat?

The monks of the Jerónimos Monastery are said to have invented them in order to use up leftover egg yolks after using the whites to starch their robes. The monastery closed in the 1800s, but luckily the monks sold their recipe to Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, which still sells the original-recipe pastéis de nata today. There’s always a line out of the door, so get there before you’re hungry and expect a bit of a wait. It’s worth it.

There’s plenty else to see while you’re in Belem, including the above-mentioned Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most visited sites in Portugal, as well as the Tower of Belém, a beautiful 16th-century fortification once used for Portuguese explorers, and the sail-shaped Monument of The Discoveries, built to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator.

**The line in Belém for Pastéis de Nata.**

Évora

Do you enjoy simple food, cooked exceptionally well? Do you like fine wines that won’t break the bank? Évora is the place for you.

The city specializes in hearty dishes cooked to perfection from recipes dating back generations. You’ll discover delicious combinations of meat, fish, vegetables, bread and potatoes in dishes such as bifana, a traditional sandwich with marinated pork and optional toppings like bacon, egg, cheese, lettuce and tomato, and migas, breadcrumbs fried in butter and served with pork ribs, chorizo or cod.

Évora is located in the Alentejo region, considered one of Portugal’s most respected wine-producing areas, and just an hour and a half’s drive from Lisbon. A sunny, hot area, the region produces a variety of dry wines, both red and white.

The reds are known to be rich and fruit-forward with lively acidity, whereas the whites are appreciated for their floral aromas and bright, fresh flavors. One of my favorite Alentejo wine and food pairings is a full-bodied red from Cartuxa winery paired with tomato and egg soup.

While you’re there, spend time exploring this UNESCO World Heritage city by soaking in all the history, and, as a bonus, building up your appetite for the next meal.

Évora is home to well-preserved Roman ruins where you will find a temple, as well as the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel lined with real human bones, and Se Catedral de Évora, the largest medieval gothic cathedral in Portugal.

Alto Douro Wine Region

Wine has been produced in the Douro Valley for over 2,000 years—by now they know what they’re doing! In fact, it’s one of the oldest wine regions in the world, and there’s no shortage of vineyards across this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The main product from this area is Port, a sweet, red dessert wine, but the native grapes grown here are also used to make noteworthy dry red and white wines.

The terraces where the vineyards sit are cut into the sides of the hills, creating a unique landscape whose appearance shifts with the seasons, from the fresh greens of spring and summer to the vibrant golds, oranges and reds of autumn.

It’s no surprise that the Alto Douro wine region, worth visiting for the views alone, has become a top wine tourism destination. Why not go on a wine tour and taste these delicious wines at their source?

Being that everywhere you go in Portugal you’ll be sure to find authentic and tasty cuisine with perfectly paired wine, it’s difficult to narrow it down to just four culinary hotspots—there are so many more.

Where would you recommend? Let me know in the comments.